Deuteronomy 5:22-26

Context

The Narrative of the Sinai Revelation and Israel’s Response

5:22 The Lord said these things to your entire assembly at the mountain from the middle of the fire, the cloud, and the darkness with a loud voice, and that was all he said.¹ Then he inscribed the words² on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 5:23 Then, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness while the mountain was ablaze, all your tribal leaders and elders approached me. 5:24 You said, “The Lord our God has shown us his great glory³ and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us⁴ that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living. 5:25 But now, why should we die, because this intense fire will consume us! If we keep hearing the voice of the Lord our God we will die! 5:26 Who is there from the entire human race⁵ who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the middle of the fire as we have, and has lived?

[5:22] ¹tn Heb “and he added no more” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); NLT “This was all he said at that time.”

[5:22] ²tn Heb “them”; the referent (the words spoken by the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:24] ³tn Heb “his glory and his greatness.”

[5:24] ⁴tn Heb “this day we have seen.”

[5:26] ⁵tn Heb “who is there of all flesh.”